Page 7 - bwfeb2013
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FEBRUARY 2013 -
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SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
"Gold Medal" Roster Of Speakers Highlight
2013 Bowling Summit
Olympic Champion Rowdy Gaines, PepsiCo Social Media Guru John Ross,and
Famed Lobbyist Rick Berman Lead Innovative Seminars to Help Bowling Pro-
prietors Grow Their Businesses
SAN ANTONIO - Bowling industry leaders from across the nation gathered
to hear a star-studded line-up of speakers at the 2013 Bowling Summit, the
premiere mid-winter conference for the bowling industry. The Summit was at-
tended by hundreds of attendees who came to network and learn about new
industry insights and upcoming products, including updates on social media and
healthcare reform.
The Summit featured a keynote address by Rowdy Gaines, Olympic gold
medalist and current broadcast journalist and sports commentator. Gaines,
whose career inside and outside of the pool is one of inspiration and courage,
spoke to proprietors about his remarkable swimming career and his Gold medal
winning bid at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Applying the challenges and
lessons he learned through his own sport, Gaines shared lessons for success
and spoke about the enduring popularity and appeal of bowling.
"Bowling to me has always been about the coming together of people and
families. You're talking about a participatory sport that is so huge, and bowling
is worldwide," said Gaines. "Bowling has something for everyone and is one of
the few sports in the world that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and from
all walks of life. It is a sport that does not discriminate."
Added Gaines, "And there are amazing athletes in bowling - I put bowling on
par with any Olympic sport."
Attendees also had an opportunity to hear from respected PepsiCo Digital
Marketer John Ross. During his seminar, Ross offered tips and strategies to
help bowling proprietors seize upon new social media platforms and technolo-
gies to grow their businesses.
"The bowling experience isn'tjust about what happens on the lanes; there is
so much more to it. It's about family time, food and fun. Through social media,
bowling can now tell its story before, during and after people go to the lanes,
creating an experience even when people aren't on premise," said Ross.
Also presenting at Summit was Rick Berman, famed consumer advocate and
lobbyist, and a longtime supporter of the bowling industry. During his address,
"How the Election Will Impact Small Business," Berman discussed pressing
new legislative issues and changes in the political environment that can have an
impact on the bowling industry.
Additionally, senior executives from three leading bowling entities hosted a
ground-breaking "Uniting the Industry" panel. The conversation included leaders
from each of the key bowling industry organizations that are headquartered
within the International Bowling Campus (IBC) - the Bowling Proprietors' Asso-
ciation of America (BPAA), United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and Strike
Ten Entertainment (STE). The conversation took a look at increasing collabora-
tion across bowling, the impact of the IBC and continued improvements that will
be made in the years ahead within the industry.
"Bowling Summit is about arming proprietors with information that will help
them grow their businesses and this year's event featured a spectacular line-up
of thought leaders," said Steve Johnson, executive director of BPAA. "In today's
environment, where business and culture are in a constant state of change, it is
so important to stay current and to challenge yourself to be at the top of your
game.
From leadership strategies to social media to legislative changes, the speak-
ers at this year's Summit covered a variety of important topics and attendees
are leaving with tips and strategies that they can put to work right away."
The BPAA's Annual Bowling Summit is the premiere annual strategic mid-
winter conference for bowling center proprietors, managers and industry lead-
ers, offering education, networking and industry insights on new and upcoming
products. The 2013 Bowling Summit was held from January 27-30, 2013 at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel in the San Antonio Riverwalk in Texas. To register for next
year's summit or receive additional information, please visit http://
Carol Wilson New 500 Club Leader
By: Mary Lynly
Stepping into very big shoes as leader of the Camellia City 500 Club is Carol
Wilson. Carol will take the reins from Shirley Baker who has been a very effective
President. Carol began bowling as a youth in the first organized junior league in
Sacramento. She recalls the thrill of Pro Buzz Fazio coming to the bowl to give
instructions. Carol served as secretary of several leagues and joined the Camellia
City 500 club in 1990. Over a period of 16 years She has served as 2
nd
and 1
st
Vice President of the club and honed her skills working for the Sacramento
Women‘s and California State associations. An avid bowler, Carol supports Na-
tional and State tournaments whenever she can and she says it is something she
and her husband have done for over 50 years.
The Camellia City 500 Club has 180 members and is no stranger to charitable
giving. Each tournament asks bowlers to bring food for the food bank and their
50/50 raffles benefit a variety of causes. At Christmas time when bowlers entered
the bowl the Marines were there to gather toys brought by the bowlers for Toys for
Tots. There are many benefits for bowlers belonging to this club. Everyone is in
uniform (or you don‘t bowl) and all appreciate the good bylaws and rules which are
enforced.
I asked Shirley Baker if there was club history and she put together the following
– so enjoy a little walk through time:
The Camellia City 500 Club was formed on September 27, 1969 by a group of 22
women who met at Country Club Lanes with the purpose of forming a club for
women who had bowled a 500 or better series in a league or tournament, but who
were not eligible for the 600 Club. Rules were adopted and the Club was named
the Camellia City 500 Club. The dues were set at $3 annually and forty three years
since, the dues have only increased $14.
The Club‘s first event was held at the Cardinal Lanes in North Sacramento on
October 26, 1969. It was a Masquerade Mixed Scotch Doubles event and 13 cou-
ples participated with an entry fee of $3 per couple. The second event was held at
Alpine Lanes and 65 entries were received. Not a bad increase in just one month.
That first tournament had 26 members participating and now the club averages 90
members bowling in monthly events. In the early years of the Club some of the
monthly events were even held on Saturday nights.
On June 7, 1969, the club held a tournament to determine the ―500 Club Cham-
pion‖. The event date was later changed to October and became known as the
Queens Tournament.
In October 1970 the first Annual Open Membership meeting was held at Alpine
Alley and Ann Wicks was elected President. The members approved the uniform to
be black shirt, with a pink camellia, green leaf and white lettering worn with either a
black skirt or black slacks.
The club‘s first Sacramento Invitational Tournament was held at the Town &
Country Bowl in July 1971. Trophies and money were awarded as well as a spe-
cial award for the low scratch game bowled. Not sure exactly when the Club
started bowling in Reno, but one article stated a trip to Reno on March 31, 1973. It
was a 9 pin no tap at the Village Lanes.
During the coming years the Club continued to experiment with different tourna-
ment formats besides the standard regular bowling. One was called Deuces Wild
and others were Alibi Ike, Best Ball, Quadplex, Under the Sheets, Scotch Doubles,
Sweetheart Doubles, 9 Pin No Tap, Strike in the 3-6-9 frames. Many of these for-
mats are still used today at the Club‘s monthly events. Some formats though are a
mystery. History records show that the early Invitational format was a best of three
out of four games bowled. It also appears that some of the monthly events allowed
men to bowl in their own division.
The Club members also participate in other activities than just bowling. Over the
years members have gone to Hawaii, bus trip to Las Vegas, held picnics, bingo
nights and even square dancing. Currently the Club holds bowling events 11
months out of the year. We have two annual Invitational events. One is held in
April in Sacramento and the other in Reno in September. More than 500 ladies
participate in these events. The Club holds three events where gentlemen are
invited to participate. December is the Holiday Doubles event and members and
guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for a charity we support and nonper-
ishable food items which are donated to a local food closet.
The Camellia City 500 Club is the largest 500 Club in California with a member-
ship of more than180. Sadly bowling establishments continue to close, but those
that remain offer wonderful bowling experiences that build friendships and memo-
ries for all our members
.
